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Judy McGrath

Chief executive, MTV Networks

Ms. McGrath has survived life under mercurial Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone and the fickle tastes of her young audience. Now, the force behind MTV signature shows like The Real World presides over an international empire that faces more pressure than ever. The number of primetime viewers for MTV slid 14% in the second quarter, according to Nielsen, after falling 9% in 2008. Still, under the watch of the 57-year-old executive, Nickelodeon recently marked its 15th year as the top children’s network, and Comedy Central, with satirist-in-chief Jon Stewart, continues to thrive. -- Matthew Flamm

Creating a ranked list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in New York was no easy task for Crain’s editors, considering the multitude of women ably running many of the city’s important businesses and cultural organizations.